This week I am SO excited about the blog! This is the first of a new project I’ve been wanting to do for quite a while. I’ve brought together a group of my Disney moms to add another layer of help and knowledge to the blog! And as always, this will be verified, tried, and trusted advice about lots of things regarding traveling with littles to Disney! I am so excited that these ladies are allowing me to pick their momma brains to help you! And I am so excited to see what amazing things we can do together! So, this being said, let’s get right to it! I have asked my experts 10 basic questions about doing Disney with little ones and I want to share some of what they said with you! 

Here are the questions we are diving into this week! 

Best park for kids?

While I found Magic Kingdom to be the most popular answer to this question, for obvious reasons, I loved this one response in particular!  ” Obviously MK, but don’t discount AK, especially for the little ones. On our last trip, Kash was 2 and Dino Land was a huge hit!  Dumbo is his favorite ride so Triceratops was a huge hit and of course the Boneyard playground. He also loved the safari and Festival of the lion king.”- Kassy P.

Nap time or no nap time?

That IS the question.  When I presented this question, I thought I knew the answer, having planned so many family trips, but even my on property moms surprised me with a resounding “stroller nap” answer! And one of my totally seasoned Disney mommas has a few tricks up her sleeve, keep in mind she has 3 littles under 3!  “Nap time- but in the park. I strategically buy strollers that have a big canopy so that they can angle a fan, maybe add a portable noise machine if needed and take a good nap. We use that time to shop or get a snack and people watch or rider swap some rides!”- Jennifer J.

Best advice for keeping kids occupied in line?

I’m kinda thinking we need to ask this about kids of all ages, to be honest. But, lots of folks mentioned snacks, small activities, bubble wands, etc. which I think are amazing suggestions, but here’s one that I really loved on the subject of games in line!  “100% download the Heads Up game! You will have people you don’t even know join in and before long it’s a heads up party and you have made friends. Also if kids can’t read I recommend letting them watch YouTube videos on the ride they are about to go on, that way they are excited when they get to do what they just saw.” –Ashley L.

What’s something you always have in your park bag?   

This question brought out so much good advice! Phone chargers, bandaids, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, but there is one park bag “must have” that was mentioned by nearly every mom on my panel and one mom that added a little hope for the future of your park visits! “Baby wipes! I take them everywhere. Hands get sticky or dirty and can wipe your shirt if you drop something. So many uses. And as Ali gets older my park bag gets way smaller!”- Amanda E.

What are your favorite dining experience for little ones?

Disney dining is almost always thought of as part of the “Disney experience” and with so many cool character experiences and heavily themed eateries, there is literally something for everyone! But, I asked my moms what their littles loved dining wise and there were a lot of great answers. Chef Mickey’s stood out for character interaction but not for food, Coral Reef stands out for the experience of dining “inside” the aquarium, but two character experiences were mentioned more than any other! “Topolino’s and Tusker House (we go on every trip, great food for parents)”-Emily R.

Is a break day necessary?

Ultimately I feel like this comes down to preference, but I was very interested in what the moms had to say on this topic. We all know that Disney can be exhausting, even for adults. So, when planning a Disney trip, is that break day necessary? “We did a break day last time and didn’t this time. Big difference. A break day would have been like heaven. We did 6 days both times though. I would say if you only do a 4 day pass, it’s probably not necessary.” – Brittany H.

Is there a “too young” for disney age?

I get this question all the time. I’ve seen very mixed feelings overall on this so naturally, I had to ask my moms! I hear people say they don’t want to take their children to Disney until they will remember it and others want to go as many times as possible when they are small and *hint FREE! While I am steadfast to believe there is no wrong answer and moms know their kids and their capacity to enjoy a trip better than anyone, this particular answer stands out to me! “NEVER!! Just as parents realize that going in and don’t have high expectations. They may be able to hang out at the park all day, maybe not. They may love characters and maybe be scared. I’ve been all over the board with that (first trip she was 15 months, most recent 4yr) but don’t regret a single trip!” –April J.

Do you find kid friendly food easily accessible in parks and resorts?

Most people know that Disney food is amazing and very foodie focused especially in the sit down type eateries. This begs the question if mom and dad want to try some out of the box things, but the kiddos prefer “chocy milk and nuggies”, can I find those things so everyone is happy? The answer here is a resounding, YES! “I was always able to find something that would satisfy my 5 and 9 year olds. My 5 year old is picky and he was easily fed the entire trip.” – Natasha W.

What is one thing you’d tell a family on their first visit?

Boy is this a loaded question. Being in my line of work, I hear all sorts of unsolicited, first time advice that folks tell my clients. I tend to encourage my folks to take most of that well intentioned, yet most often incorrect advice with a grain of salt. Another reason I have wanted to pursue this mom’s project for so long! So here is some best practice advice from one of my very seasoned Disney mommas that really knows her stuff.  “ Lower your expectations, give your children grace, and just enjoy the experience through their eyes. Buy the bubble wands, buy the extra bubbles, and let the kids take in the magic. There is nothing more magical than Disney through your kids’ eyes.” – Kara G.

For older kiddos, stroller or no stroller?

Again this is one of those things that Momma knows best, and really is a personal preference and has tons to do with your child’s endurance for a long park day. So the good thing is, if you decide against a stroller, you can always grab one at any park, but, if you opt to go without for those older “littles” here’s another seasoned Disney mom’s take on the subject. “January was our first trip without a stroller, so we took more breaks at the parks and definitely had a midday break.” – Michele M.                                                                                                                          

I hope you have enjoyed this first blog with help from some amazing expert moms! I am so excited about this and how much it can help everyone have solid and reliable information to refer to when planning with Travel with Carie! Thanks to my moms that have volunteered to be a part of this! I look forward to lots of fun discussions to come! My goal is to help all my families plan stress free trips where you feel comfortable and well informed! I know this is just going to further this mission evermore!